Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-02-17

With great llbefality, and have been supple
nented by numerous private acts to reach
ipecial cases, there has not, until now,
leen an avowed departure from the prln-
,ipe thus far adhered to-, respecting Union
soldiers, that the bounty OF the government
in the way OF pensions is generously be-
slowed when granted to those who, In this !
military service and In the line OF military |
duty, have to a greater or less extent, been |
But It Is mistake TO suppose |
that service pensions, such as are per.
mitted by the second section OF the bill
under consideration, are new to our legis-
lation."
Attention Is then called to the pension
laws enacted heretofore, and their npplica-
tons. comparative table OF the number
OF beneliciaries Is presented. Attention Is
called TO the fact that for the year ending
June SO.h 1887, $75 .0GO,0 600 has been appro,.
priated for the payment OF pensions, and
the amount expended for that purpose from
1861 to July list, 1886, Is IS S,624 81 81.
While annually paying out such a vast sum
for pensions already granted, 1t Is row pro-
posed by the bill under consideration to
award a service pension to the soldiers OF
all wars In which the United States has
been engaged, including, OF course, the war
OF the rebellion, and to pay those entitled
to the benefits OF the acts the sum OF $l2
per month.
The pension Il awards Is allowed to
enlisted men who have not suffered the
last injury. disability, loss or damage OF
any kind, incurred In or In any degree re-
terable to their military service, including
those who never reached the front at all
and those discharged from rendezvous at
the close Of the war, II discharged three
months after enlistment. Under the last
call OF the President for troops In Decem
Der, 1864, 1 1913 men were furnished who
were thus discharged.
The 81 elton allowing this pension does,
however, require, besides service OF three
months and an honorable discharge, that
those seeking the benefit OF the act shall be
such rs ARC now or may hereafter be suf
feriag from mental or physical disability
not the result ot their own vicious habits or
gross c4raiessness, witch incHpaeitates
them for the performance Of labor Ia such
degree as to render them unable to earn a
support, and who are dependent upon
their daily labor for their support F"
This meaning and scope OF tho condi-
tons mentioned IL this SO 'tiOn are then Ie-
viewed In detail, winding UP with the fol-
10 wing conclusion:
1t will be observed that ,hsre is nolimita-
ti6n Or fGhRttiau OK TIA 'aaaHqaitSt'lg h.
Jury or ailmpnt itself u l4rd 7aA be sucn
dpg'se ofdlsabiltY from any 81 8 rem
| iers the claimant uuable to earn support
| by labor. 1t seems to me that the support
/ UHff1 ublIlDntu It's Oub WultI NhuIIOl h5
| earned is a complete and entire support,
with no diminutlon on account Of the lenst
impairment Of physical or mental condi-
| ton. II 1t had been intended 10 embrace
| only those who by disease or injury were
totally unable to labor, 1t would have been
| very easy to express that idea, instead OF
recognizing, as is done. u degrees Of such
inability.
Who Is to detsrmi0e whether Il mai oatn4
It, or has 1t, or has 1t not l. the govern
ment to enter the homes of claimants for
pension, and, after an examination of theiI
surroundings and circumstances, settle
those questionsF Shall the government say
to one man that his manner of subsistence
by his earnings Is support, and to another
that the things his earnings furnish ARE not
a support? Any attempt, however honest
to administer this law in such manner
would necessarily produce more unfairne,,
and unjust discrimination and give more
scope Tor partisan Partially, and would re
suit in moro perversi IN of the government
benevolent Intentions than the execution o
any statute ought to perm t.
II In the effort TO carry out the proposed
law the degree OF disability as related t.
earnings be considered for the purpose
discovering II In any way 1t curtalls thu
support which the applicant II entirely
| sound, would earn, and to which he 4
| entitled, weenter the broad field long uccu
pied by the pension bureau, and wa Iecog
| nize as the only differ nee between tho pro
posed legislation and previous laws passet
for the benefit of the surviving soldiers o
the civil war the incurrence In one case o
disabilities In military service, and In tn
other disabilities existing, but In no wa
connected with or resulting from such sei
vice.
1t must be borne In mind that in no cas-
is there any grading of this proposed per
Il 1 4tnn Ifnhpr the ION Of ha al. .
first suggested, II there is IL lack In an
d gree, great or SMALL OF the ability to ear
such support as the government dete
mines the claimant should have, and by ii
application Of the rule secondly suggeste,
II there Is reduction In any degree of II
support which he might earn, If sound,
Is entitled to a pension of Sl2.
In the latter case, and under the provi.
of the proposed bill, permitting person
now receiving pensions to be admitted
the benefits Of the act, do not see no
those now on the pension roll for disabi
ties incurred In the service, and whiC
diminish their earning capacity, can
denied the pension provided In this bill,
Another condition required
claimants under this act is that they shall
dependent upon their daily labor for su
port" This language, which may he sa
to assume that there exists within the rea,
OF the persons mentioned "labor," or d
ability In some degree to work, is mo
y aptly used in u statute describing those n
: wholly deprived Of this ability than IN o.
| which deals with those utterly unable
work. I am of the opinion that It M
fairly be commended that under the prov
q Ions Of this section any soldier whose fl
4 ulties Of mind or body have become Ii
. paired by accident, disease or age, irrespt
. tive OF his service In the army as eau,
!. and who by his labor only is left incapai
nf fpaiDfnlP thu fair hR txfyi
unimpaired powers have provided for hi
= self, and who is not so well endowed wi
~ this worlds goods as to live without wol
Y. may claim to participate In Its bounty II
ID tits not required that he should be witho
In property, but only that labor should be |
% cessary to his support In some degree; n
4. is 1t required that he should be now rece
ing support from others.
Recent personal observation and eype
ence eonstrain me to refer to another res
which will inevitably follow the passage
this bill. 1t is sad, but, nevertheless, trl
that already In the matter of procuring pr
sfons there exists widespread disregard
~ truth and good faith, stimulated by the
who, as agents, undertake to establ
claims for pensions, heedlessly enter
upon by the expectant beneficiary and
couraged, or, at least, not condemned
those unwilling to obstruct neighbo
plans. In the execution of this propos
law under any Interpretation Wide fl
Of inquiry would be opened for the est
lishment Of facts largely Within the kno'
edge OF the claimant alone. and there G
be no doubt that the race after the pensit
offered by this bill would not only stimuli
weakness and pretended incapacity
labor, but put further premium on d
honesty and mendacity. The effect of n
invitations to apply for pensions, or Of n
i advantages added to causes for penslc
4 already existing, Is sometimes startling.
l.. While cost should not be set agains
y patriotic duty or the recognition OF a rig
still, when a measure proposed Ia bai
upon generosity or motives Of charity, /
not amiss to mediate somewhat upon
expense which It involves. Experience
demonstrated, i believe, that all estlma
concerning the probable future cost o
pension list are uncertain and unrelial